Cattle in Knutsford (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2023

Ranchers prepare to rebuild as Ross Moore Lake wildfire activity slows

Jul 28, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Rancher and TNRD Area ‘L’ Director Doug Haughton went through the challenge of moving more than 400 head of cattle due to the Ross Moore Lake fire, but admits the hard work won’t begin until the fire is out.

“I want to see this stuff logged and helicopter seeded with grass before snow flies this winter because if you wait for another year, it will just be a mess,” said Haughton.

BC Cattlemen’s Association General Manager Kevin Boon agreed that quick action to reseed the area will be required to ensure ranchers can recover from the fire.

“We lose fences, we lose infrastructure, we lose the bush, we lose the trees that is the shelter. But more importantly a lot of time, and especially in our firefighting where we build fire guards, we create the ability for the noxious weeds, the invasive species to take hold,” stated Boon.

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He also spoke about the dangers of losing vegetation on steeper terrain.

“We need the vegetation to hold the soil, if we get some of these heavy rains with no ground cover, we have nothing to hold the soil. fire goes through and it actually makes the soil hydrophobic, where it repels the water,” added Boon.

The Cattlemen’s Association is still rebuilding 1,400 kilometres of fences from the 2021 wildfire and flood season and will now be tasked with rebuilding even more fence lines.

“The fires this year have been more to the north. This fire here that is just outside of Kamloops right now is our first major one to the south. And it is in prime ranching country, those are grasslands that are burning, its not the same as the intense forest fires (to the north). So, the rebuilding is important,” said Boon.

Houghton has been in contact with his neighbours about preparing to act as soon as it’s safe to do so and expects the community in Knutsford to rally together.

“I will work with the BC Cattlemens, and local government officials to work with getting not only myself but all my neighbours looked after and get some sourcing of funding to get that logged and reseeded, and fences, fences are probably the most expensive part of the deal,” said Houghton.

The Ross Moore Lake wildfire south of Kamloops has remained at 2,600 hectares since Monday (July 24) afternoon. The fire which quickly spread over the past weekend, has calmed, now displaying rank 1 and 2 behaviour, described as smouldering ground fire. Heavy equipment is building containment lines on the southern and northern flanks of the blaze, which are expected to be completed in the coming days.

Approximately 344 properties remain on evacuation order with more than 150 others on alert.